Located partway between Sweden’s two biggest cities, Stockholm and Gothenburg, Motala overlooks Lake Vättern in Östergötland County. It was established as early as the 13th century but remained a small village until the construction of the Göta Canal in the early 19th century. Motala is famously home to one of Sweden’s earliest longwave broadcasting stations.
Things to do in Motala
In the heart of the city is the Motala Kyrka, which has a rich history dating back to the 13th century. The current church was constructed in the 1770s while its elegant tower was added in 1844. Adjacent is the lakefront Stadsparken, where you’ll find a children’s playground and Motala’s iconic bike statue. A waterfront promenade connects west to the 600-metre-long Motala Bridge, which spans the Göta Canal.
Car enthusiasts can visit the Motala Motor Museum, which is home to more than 200 automobiles, motorbikes and mopeds. It was established back in 1995 and showcases the development of vehicles over the last century. Admire the antique radios and televisions that are on display, together with a wall of mobile phones that includes some very early models.
In 1927, a longwave broadcasting station was established in Motala and is now home to the Swedish Broadcasting Museum. It details the transmitter’s role in broadcasting public radio programs across the country up until the implementation of the Orlunda longwave transmitter in 1962. Gaze up at the building’s twin towers before stepping inside to see the vintage transmitting equipment on display.
Getting around Motala
Motala is around 45 minutes’ drive from Linköping and Linköping City Airport, which has regular flights to Amsterdam. The much larger Stockholm Arlanda Airport is three hours away. Regular trains connect to the Motala railway station and buses travel through the city. The centre of Motala can easily be explored on foot.